ARTISTS’ INITIATIVE TEMPORARY PUBLIC ART PROJECTS
The recent Artists’ Initiative Temporary Public Art Projects allowed Arizona artists to propose both projects and potential sites in a process that helped develop their resumes, build professional experience, and create an understanding of the public art process.
A series of Artists’ Initiative Workshops that brought local artists together with public art experts from around the country led to the Temporary Public Art Projects. Out of 48 initial submissions, 18 finalists were selected to develop proposals which were displayed in the City Hall Atrium in November 2003. Finalists presented their proposals to the selection panel, which ultimately selected 8 works for completion. These diverse works, ranging from computer animation to video projection to sculptural installations, debuted on March 5 in conjunction with Artlink Inc.’s annual Art Detour, a self-guided tour of downtown galleries and artist studios.
Lew Alquist’s “Citizen Eyes” animated the west façade of the Wells Fargo building with the moving eyes of citizens of Phoenix, keeping watch over City Hall for two nights.
Lew Alquist's Citizen Eyes
Sue Chenoweth’s “Little Doors” hint at magical worlds hidden behind these tiny doors appearing and disappearing throughout downtown Phoenix.
Gregory Sale and Cyndi Coon are interviewing residents and business owners as they explore the qualities of life in Phoenix with their art/research project, “Phoenix is on Fire.”
Zarco Guerrero’s triad of sculptures brought the archetypal Olmec head to Margaret T. Hance Park.
Richard Hermann’s 10-foot tall red vinyl llama has taken up residence near the reflecting pool in Burton Barr Central Library, lending a pastoral air to the lobby.
Sloane McFarland’s “Container” turned a cargo container and a downtown parking lot into a walk-up movie theatre for a short film during Art Detour.
Mary Bates Neubauer’s “Heliopolis” used the north wall of the Herberger Theatre as a screen for dynamic digital animations representing graphical interpretations of vital statistics from the City of Phoenix
Allison Young’s
“Natural Language of Our City” was woven through Encanto Park,
where a trail of organic sculptures has been continually altered by birds
and weather.